At What Ages Are Children Required to Use a Booster Seat?

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Quick Answer

The required age for children to use a booster seat in a car varies by state, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Booster seat requirements are generally based on age as well as weight and height, although some states have laws based on just one of these variables.

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Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require booster seats for children who have outgrown their child safety seats and are not yet big enough to be properly secured by an adult seat belt. As of June 2015, Florida and South Dakota are the only states without specific booster seat laws. Generally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of booster seats for children from the age of 5 until they can properly fit into an adult seat belt. The recommended height for proper fit of an adult seat belt is 57 inches tall.